There are several low-end guest houses and a hotel on the beach. At the top end is the Evason Resort.

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There are several low-end guest houses and a hotel on the beach.

The high-end Royal Phuket Yacht Club sits on a hill at the west end of the beach. It is one of two places to stay in Ao Sen. The other is:

The high-end Royal Phuket Yacht Club sits on a hill at the west end of the beach. It is one of two places to stay in Ao Sen. The other is:

Revision as of 14:26, 30 November 2012

Nai Han (หาดในหาน Hat Nai Han), more commonly spelled and pronounced, Nai Harn, is a village and a beach of the same name at the southernmost tip of Phuket, near Phromthep Cape. The northeastern bit of Nai Han is Ao Sen (อ่าวเสน-Sen Bay).

Contents

Understand

Some 18 kilometres from Phuket Town, south of Kata Noi and north of Phromthep Cape, Nai Han is not Phuket's longest beach, but it borders the most gorgeous lagoon on the island. The middle of the beach is dominated by the Nai Han monastery, which has prevented excessive development and is the reason that the beach is generally less crowded than other spots on the southern part of the island.

Get in

Get around

See

Ao Sen (อ่าวเสน). Often overlooked due to its proximity to Nai Han, and because the connecting road runs through and under Le Meridien's Royal Phuket Yacht Club, Ao Sen has a wan air of long lost glamour to it. Its chief appeal is the epic view it offers of Nai Han and Phromthep Cape.

Hat Nui (หาดนุ้ย). Possibly the most difficult beach to visit on Phuket, Nui lies between the Kata Viewpoint and Nai Han. A new, wide, dirt road has recently been cut through the forested hillside to replace the winding track down to the beach; however this is just as steep and difficult to traverse and should only be attempted by four-wheel drive trucks and moto-cross bikes.

Phromthep Cape (แหลมพรหมเทพ Laem Phromthep). Phromthep Cape is a headland forming the extreme south end of Phuket. "Phrom" is Thai for the Hindu term, "Brahma," signifying purity and "Thep" means 'God.' Local villagers used to refer to the cape as "Laem Chao", or the God's Cape, and it was an easily recognisable landmark for the early seafarers traveling up the Malay Peninsula from the sub-continent. Sunsets here are often fiery and spectacular, so much so that it's also known as Sunset Point.

View Point (จุดชมวิว). This is located mid-point between Nai Han and Kata beaches. The scenic Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu Island can be viewed from this point.

Do

Buy

Eat

Phromthep Cape has tourist shops and a popular restaurant with a nice view of Nai Harn beach.

Breakfast Hut, 31/33 Baan Sai Yuan, Nai Harn, ☎+66 76 289 823. 09:00-18:00. Located on the road to Nai Harn beach and a favourite amongst ex-pats and tourists, the Breakfast Hut serves debatably the best breakfast in Nai Harn. The menu includes both western and Thai foods, and the restaurant is run by a entertaining Scot, John, and his even more entertaining Thai wife, Noi. A lifesaver after a hard night out.120 baht.

DaVinci, 28/46 Moo 1,Nai Harn (between Nai Han Beach and Soi Sai Yuan.), ☎+66 76 289 574, [1]. Italian restaurant in Nai Harn which is recognised as one of Phuket's better eateries. The restaurant itself includes a large open air area, a number of private function rooms, a cocktail bar, and children's play area. Food is of a very high standard with a good menu selection, the staff are hand-picked to add to the aesthetic appeal, and the atmosphere in this place is very good. Live musicians regularly play jazz, electro and chill out music. Definitely a great restaurant for a special night out, but perhaps not for the value-conscious.

Kallot's (Restaurant Nai Harn), Baan Sai Yuan, Nai Harn, Tambon Rawai, A. Muang. 83150 PHUKET. 09:00-20:00. Located just 30 meters from Rum Jungle is one of the area's favoured expat eateries. Serving western and Thai dishes, the food is great and the prices are good value.

M&Ms Pizza (Restaurant Nai Harn), Nai Harn, Tambon Rawai, A. Muang. 83150 PHUKET, ☎076 289 574. 18:00-24:00. Another Italian restaurant in Nai Harn, but this time more rustic in both food served and the laid-back atmosphere. Don't be put off however - M&M's is well renowned for serving the best pizza in Phuket. The pizzas here really are that good, and the pasta specials also make fine dishes. The only downside is this place's popularity, and during peak season the queue can mean a wait of 30 mins or more to be seated. The restaurant is found just after the junction of the Rawai beach and Nai Hann beach roads, and is a large open-area modern building on the right hand side as you drive to Nai Han. Music is jazz, there's always a good buzz here, and it's very family-friendly.

Rum Jungle (Restaurant Nai Harn), 69/8 Baan Sai Yuan, Nai Harn, Tambon Rawai, A. Muang. 83150 PHUKET, ☎076 388 153. 18:00. Located on Soi Sai Yuan, this place has a lot of charm and atmosphere. The food is of a really high standard, and the Australian owner/chef has a great skill for serving ordinary dishes in an extraordinary way. The menu changes regularly, and fuses Mediterranean and Thai cuisine. Certainly not the cheapest restaurant in the area, but definitely one of the best. They close on a Sunday, and generally there's no need to reserve.

Drink

Sleep

There are several low-end guest houses and a hotel on the beach.

The high-end Royal Phuket Yacht Club sits on a hill at the west end of the beach. It is one of two places to stay in Ao Sen. The other is: